Sandgate, North Brisbane · Jaw, facial pain and sleep
TMJ & Sleep Therapy Brisbane
Dentist-led, non-surgical care for jaw pain, headaches, teeth grinding, snoring and sleep apnoea, for adults and children. Our Sandgate clinic is led by Dr Andrew Bachour, who holds master's degrees in Sleep Medicine and in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics.
- Adults and children
- No referral needed to book
- Non-surgical options
- 3D CBCT imaging on site
Not sure where to start?
Tell us your main concern when you call. Every assessment begins with a thorough history and examination.
Find your concern →Choose your concern
Care for TMJ, craniofacial pain and sleep-related breathing disorders
Jaw pain, grinding and sleep-related breathing problems often overlap, but each needs its own assessment. Start with the one that sounds most like you.
TMJ and jaw pain
Jaw pain, clicking or locking, limited opening and tired or aching jaw muscles.
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Headaches and facial pain
Recurring headaches, migraines, facial pain and neck pain that may relate to the jaw.
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Teeth grinding and clenching
Night-time grinding or daytime clenching, tooth wear, cracked teeth and sore jaw muscles.
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Snoring
Loud or disruptive snoring, and custom oral appliances for suitable patients.
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Sleep apnoea in adults
Oral appliance therapy for diagnosed sleep apnoea, working alongside your GP or sleep physician.
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Sleep disorders in children
Snoring, mouth breathing and restless sleep in children, and why early assessment matters.
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Our approach
Looking for the cause, not just the symptom
The TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre offers a focused approach to craniofacial pain and sleep disorders. While many patients first seek help for TMJ-related issues, these symptoms often reflect a deeper, underlying condition, such as chronic head and facial pain, recurring headaches, migraines, jaw discomfort and neck pain.
We look beyond symptom relief and aim to identify and address the underlying cause, using non-surgical, evidence-based therapies and personalised, non-invasive treatment plans.
About our centreChildren and adults
We see both adults and children with jaw, pain and sleep-related concerns, and coordinate with your family's doctors where needed.
Other causes considered
Headaches and ear pain have many possible causes, so we may suggest seeing your GP as well. We refer when another professional is better placed to help.
Sleep apnoea needs a medical diagnosis
Dentists do not diagnose sleep apnoea. It is diagnosed from a sleep study reviewed by a doctor, and we work with your GP or sleep physician.
How sleep apnoea care works →Signs worth checking
Experiencing any of these?
If any of these sound familiar for you or someone in your family, get in touch and we can talk through whether an assessment is a good next step.
01
A sore jaw or head on waking
Waking with jaw ache, facial tightness or unexplained head pain.
02
Grinding or clenching
You grind your teeth, or you hear a family member grinding at night.
03
Snoring or waking suddenly
Loud snoring, or waking suddenly during the night.
04
Finding CPAP difficult
You or a loved one have been prescribed CPAP but are struggling to use it.
Your assessment
Assessment with Dr Andrew Bachour
Assessment starts with a full history, then an examination of jaw movement, the joints, muscles, bite and teeth. A 3D CBCT scan may be used to look closely at the jaw joints when clinically indicated. Options are discussed only once the cause of your symptoms is understood.
Dr Andrew Bachour, director of the Brisbane centre, has been personally mentored by Dr Steven Olmos, founder of the international TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centres network.
Meet Dr Andrew Bachour
Dr Andrew Bachour
Principal Dentist
BDSc (Hons, UQ). Master's degrees in Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopaedics and in Sleep Medicine. Special interest in TMJ, orofacial pain and airway health.
Non-surgical options
Options we may discuss
The right option depends on your diagnosis. These are some of the non-surgical approaches we may talk through once we understand what is going on.
Occlusal splints
A custom-made appliance worn over the teeth. For grinding it mainly protects the teeth, and for jaw pain it may be one option depending on the diagnosis. Splints do not suit everyone.
Mandibular advancement splints
A custom-made device worn during sleep that holds the lower jaw slightly forward to help keep the airway open, for suitable patients who snore or have sleep apnoea diagnosed by a doctor.
Referral and teamwork
Some concerns are best managed with your GP, a sleep physician, an ENT specialist or another health professional. We will tell you when that is the case.
Results vary. No treatment can guarantee your symptoms will resolve. Our aim is to understand the cause and discuss options that may help, so you can make an informed choice. More about treatments →
Our clinic
A calm, modern clinic on Brighton Road, Sandgate
We share our clinic at 119A Brighton Road with Dental Seasons, so general dental care is available under the same roof. Treatment rooms have ceiling-mounted TVs, and on-site 3D CBCT imaging is available when needed.
FAQs
TMJ and sleep therapy questions
What does TMJ mean?
The TMJs are the two joints in front of your ears that connect your lower jaw to your skull. Problems with these joints and the jaw muscles are grouped as temporomandibular disorders (TMD).
Do you diagnose sleep apnoea?
No. Sleep apnoea is diagnosed by a doctor from a sleep study. We assess whether a custom oral appliance may be suitable and work with your GP or sleep physician.
Do I need a referral?
You do not need a referral to book. For snoring or suspected sleep apnoea, we suggest seeing your GP first and bringing any sleep study report to your appointment.
Is jaw clicking a problem?
Painless clicking is common and does not always need treatment. We assess it through your history and an examination.
Can you guarantee my symptoms will go away?
No. Results vary. Our aim is to understand the cause and discuss options that may help.
Talk to us about jaw pain, grinding or sleep
Call our Sandgate clinic to book an assessment, or send us a message and we will get back to you.